Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-25
DIR. AWTH0RNE.
SOME HISTORY OF MS ALICE Ed
PLAGIARisMs IN ATLANTA.
His Tilt with Anxious Enquirer" and
How the Result Discounted
DR.. Hawthorne.
rcorro.pondepce Of tho Richmond Dispatch

Correspondence Of tho Richmond Depatch.l
ATLANTA, Ga, August %, 1887.
Political booms and other questions
OF sectional interest are all overshadow-
ed by an interstate scandal.
The Rev. J. b. Hawthorne, pastor OF
the First Baptist church in this city, is
the grand worthy chief of the Good
TempIars of Georgia. Recently he de-
livered an address in Augusta which
was published in the State papers. A
gentleman in South Carolina read the
report of the speech and promptly ex-
posed it as plagiarism from orr
Country, a pamphlet by the Rev. DIR.
Strong, of Cincinnati.
Dr. Hawthorne made furious reply,
in which he denounced "Anxious En-
quirer," as his exposcr signed himself,
as "tbe hireling tool of the liquor
ring" The Doctor also demanded the
writer's name. 1t seems DIR. Haw-
thorne did not know who he was deal
ing with. "Anxious Enquirer turned
out to be the Hon. w. g. Bennett, of
Abbeville, S. G., lawyer of high
standing, fine literary attainments, and
irreproachable character. Mr.. Bennett
accepted Hawthorne's challenge, and
came to the front in an article in which
he showed in parallel columns not less
than twenty -nne passages appropriated
by Hawthorne from DR.. StrOng's book.
In some OF the passages a few words
were changed, making the plagiarist's
dishonest intention all the more APP
parent.
Dr. Hawthorne, who is now taking
bis vacation i'll Yirginia, read this
salty communication, and at once tele-
grapEcd the home papers as follows:
"My reply to the second malicious
ard cowardly attempt OF Anxious En-
quircr to deceive the public will be
forwarded in a few days
1t is singular fact that this abuse
Of man who in every respect stands
as high as Or. Hawthorne does appears
to afford the utmost satisfaction to the
Doctors congregation. In fact, they
seem TO regard this denunciation US II
complete viDdication OF their pastor.
Yet this is not the first charge of the
kind that has been brought against the
Doctor. His record as plagiarist is a
black one. Shortly before he came to
Atlanta he preached a commencement
sermon in Macon. The Rev. DIR.
Smith, president of the Wesleyan Fe-
male College of that city, charged him
with stealing portions OF it from the
Rev. Dr. Guthrie. Hawthorne had a
committee of Baptists appointed and
he was vindicated. Then, after filling
pastcrates in Montgomery and Rich
mond, lac Was called to Atlanta. Last
year be preached a sermon which the
Rev. Dr. Tucker, editor of the Chris
Han Indcr, charged was substantially
appropriated from "Studies in the
Lie Of Christ" by Fairband. Haw-
tlolnc, rcsorting 10 his usual tactics,
bad q committee appointed. The COM
miltee demanded a retraction OF the
charge. Tucker asked for the manu-
script Of the sermon. After a months
delay it was produced. Tucker went
over it, and found twenty-five passages
taken, without credit, from Fairblnd.
CT course liz refused 10 make retrlc-
ton, and Hawthorne has since been his
open and avowod enemy. But this is
net all. Some weeks ago Hawthorne
attended the Southern Baptist Conyen-
ton at Louisville, Ky. The Rev. Jo-
seph Cook was there at that time de
liycring lectures. Shortly after Iaw-
thornes return to Atlanta he preached
a fine sermoD, and one Of the congre-
cation remarked to friend:
"Why, ] heard al that from the
Rev. Joseph Cook in Louisville"
"WeD. % replied the other, d" Haw-
thone was there when Cook was. He
doubtless heard him.
Now that these things are coming to
hight, there is naturally great excite
ment. Literary men, journalist, and
Tie public side against DR.. Hawthorne,
but the members OF the plagiarisers
congregation declare that not single
point Las been made against biln.
The deadly parallel-column business,
however, speaks for itself. 1t has even
been remarked that anxious En-
quirer" was mistaken in giving Haw-
thorre credit for originality in saying
About the dirsiest thing on top Of
dirt is a dirty newspaper doing the
dirty work of dirty whiskcy ring"
1t appears that even this crude SEN
toncc was stolen bodily from the Rev.
Sam Jones.